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"FLYGHT808" I.A. (FLYGHT808)
I.A.’s latest album is classic hip-hop, with lyrical insights on local living that are original and true to life.
Take "Summertyme," in which I.A. stacks up references to the local landmarks, popular food items and social customs that define the scene. Other songs reinforce that sense of place with talk of shave ice, "winter swell wave heights" and a smattering of familiar Hawaiian words.
"Flyte808" also contains straight-up inspirational content. "My attitude is underdog/But I’m feeling like a champion," I.A. announces in "Go the Distance." The entire song is about confidence and self-affirmation.
I.A. reveals his appreciation for vintage rock when he reworks the hook phrase of Buffalo Springfield’s signature hit, "For What It’s Worth," into an original love story.
Osna aka Osnizzle, the producer of I.A.’s first album, "Beyond Paradise," shares the producer’s duties with several others this time but appears as a guest performer on three tracks as well.
Jamaican-style rhythms and a Jawaiian ambience prevail as expatriate island girl Summer (Kapolei remembers her as Summer Eguchi; she now lives in Los Angeles) builds on the local success of her digital single, "My Mister," with this professionally produced hard-copy CD.
With George "Fiji" Veikoso, Laga Savea, Imua Garza and L.A.-based Andrew Lane as her producers and writing partners, Summer has all the professional guidance needed to make a good first impression. Give her credit for her contributions as a co-writer and for having an appealing voice that’s worthy of a national audience.
The predominance of Jawaiian-pop songs suggests her label is positioning her primarily as a Hawaii artist, but several mainstream pop songs show Summer also has broader appeal. "Straight Ahead" is one of them; co-written with Fiji, Savea and K’Nova, it closes the album on a stirring inspirational note.
A formulaic remake of "Follow Your Road" brings no new ideas to Seawind’s signature hit, but a Jawaiian-pop reworking of "Fallin’ in Love" puts the hit song by Hamilton, Joe Frank & Reynolds in a different context gender-wise and makes it fresh for a new generation.
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COURTESY FLYGHT808